Although Lucas has endured a difficult six months, he was one of PSG’s stand-out performers last year, scoring 12 goals and laying on five assists in 37 league appearances.

Lucas moved to PSG in 2012 for £38m having been chased by the likes of Manchester United and Inter Milan, with the Red Devils showing interest again in January before making their opportunistic move for Alexis Sanchez.

Neymar felt Lucas still had a role to play at PSG and should not have been sold (Picture: Getty)

Countryman Neymar paid tribute to Lucas after PSG’s win over Rennes on Tuesday evening, saying: ‘I’m sad, because he’s a good friend, he’s a quality player who was rarely used.

‘I think it’s very unfair. He is my brother in football. I wish him the best. Whatever the destination, I hope he will score a lot and he will return to the Brazilian national team.

‘He’s not just a friend, he’s a very good guy. Here he could have been used a lot more but I’m not the owner of the team, not the owner of Paris. For me, he should never have left Paris.’